Heated stuffed animal

ABSTRACT

A heated stuffed animal is provided for therapeutic use which includes a soft body having an inner cavity and an outer covering, said outer covering having an appearance of a live animal, an electric heating pad disposed within said inner cavity for generating heat, said electric heating pad including an electric power cord projecting outside of said outer covering for connection to an AC electric outlet power supply, means for selecting a temperature of heat generated by said electric heating pad, and a ballast material disposed within said inner cavity.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/549,587filed Apr. 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a heated stuffed animal, andparticularly to a stuffed animal containing an electric heating pad fortherapeutic use.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] A variety of heated stuffed animals are known in the art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 1,558,278 discloses a combined toy and heatingdevice in the shape of a stuffed animal containing a hot water bottle orelectric heating means. U.S. Pat. No. 1,896,663 discloses anelectrically heated toy in the shape of a doll or animal which is warmedby an electric resistance wire or heating pad. U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,195discloses a sleeper toy in the shape of an animal such as a teddy bearcontaining an electric heating pad. U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,731 discloses apuppy comforter in the shape of a mother dog containing a resistancewire heating element. U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,110 discloses a decorativepersonal electric heating appliance in the shape of a stuffed animalcontaining a bladder filled with a heatable fluid. U.S. Pat. No.4,694,829 discloses a therapeutic stuffed toy in the shape of an animalfigure such as a teddy bear containing a hermetically sealed containerfilled with a non-toxic heatable or chillable fluid. U.S. Pat. No.4,714,445 discloses a warmed animal toy in the shape of an animal suchas a teddy bear containing a bladder filled with a heatable fluid. U.S.Pat. No. 4,954,676 discloses a battery powered electrically heatedstuffed toy containing a mass of fibrous heat transfer material such asa mass of copper wires. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,511 discloses a stuffedanimal toy containing a heating element responsive to infrared radiationsuch as a ceramic material.

[0006] None of the prior art heated stuffed animals, however, discloseor suggest the combination of features of the heated stuffed animal ofthe present invention, as is described hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide an electric heatingpad which has all of the therapeutic benefits and features of a modernelectric heating pad, while providing the additional benefits of beingcomforting to the user. The user is envisioned to be an adult or childin need of therapeutic heat application to a sore or tender part oftheir anatomy.

[0008] The heated stuffed animal of the present invention has thefollowing combination of features which is not suggested by the priorart. The heated stuffed animal comprises a soft body having an innercavity and an outer covering. The outer covering has the appearance of alive animal, preferably a household pet such as a dog or cat. Within theinner cavity of the stuffed animal is disposed an electric heating padfor generating a therapeutic amount of heat. The electric heating padincludes an electric power cord which projects through an opening in theouter covering for connection to an AC electric outlet power supply. Theelectric heating pad includes a means for selecting a temperature ofheat generated by said electric heating pad. Preferably the means forselecting the temperature of the heat is a control device located on theelectric power cord outside of the outer covering for ease of adjustmentby the user. The electric heating pad also preferably contains a meansfor controlling the heat generated by the heating pad, such as athermostat control which is preset to discontinue heating of theelectric element upon the element reaching a specified temperature.Lastly, the heated stuffed animal contains a ballast material in theinner cavity which provides the stuffed animal with a sense of weightwhich is comforting to the user and evokes a sensation that the user isbeing warmed by a live animal. These and other features of the preferredembodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow in furtherdetail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heated stuffed animal which isa preferred embodiment of the invention identified as “LAPDOG” by theinventor, showing in broken lines the electric heating pad and ballastdisposed within the inner cavity of the animal which features are biddenin use.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric heating pad, ballast,power cord and means for selecting a temperature of heat generated bythe heating pad according to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. Theheated stuffed animal has a soft body having an outer covering 1 whichis constructed from conventional soft materials made from synthetic ornatural fibers. Examples of synthetic materials are rayon, polyester,Dacron, etc. Natural fibers are cotton. Preferably the outer coveringhas a fur-like exterior and coloring which simulates the appearance of alive animal. The outer covering may alternatively be partially or solelymade of a leather, plastic or other non-fur like material to simulateskin. Preferably the soft body is in the shape of a dog, but the body isalso envisioned to be in the shape of essentially any animal such as acat, lion, bear, monkey, giraffe, tiger, rhino, pig, etc.

[0012] The outer covering 1 has an opening 2 to allow access to an innercavity of the stuffed animal. Preferably the opening 2 is large enoughto permit replacement or repair of the electric heating pad 3 containedtherein. For example the opening may be 8 to 12 inches long and bedisposed longitudinally along the back of the stuffed animal, as shownin FIG. 1. Additionally the opening 2 serves to allow the user to add orremove ballast 4, allowing the user to choose the most comfortableweight of the stuffed animal for use as a heating pad. The electricheating pad 3 and ballast 4 are described in more detail hereinbelow.The opening is closed by any conventional means, such as a zipper,velcro, etc.

[0013] As mentioned above, an electric heating pad 3 is disposed withinthe inner cavity of the stuffed animal. The electric heating pad 3 maybe any conventional construction. Preferably the electric heating pad 3is waterproof and operates at 50 W and 120 V. The heating pad 3 ispreferably located within the inner cavity of the stuffed animal,adjacent to the underside of the outer covering corresponding to thechest and belly of the stuffed animal. The heating pad 3 may be anchoredto the inside of the outer covering to maintain its position and assuresufficient contact with the inside of the outer covering to enable amaximum heat transfer through the outer covering. Alternatively theheating pad 3 need not be anchored but be loose inside the inner cavity.The dimensions of the electric heating pad may be any which are suitablefor fitting inside the stuffed animal. Preferably the electric heatingpad 3 is about 10 to 12 inches by 10 to 12 inches. The heating pad 3should be a sufficient size to generate a therapeutic amount of heatthrough the outer covering corresponding to at least the underside ofthe stuffed animal. Preferably the heating pad 3 is large enough to befolded or curled within the inner cavity so as to be in contact with theouter covering corresponding to the chest, belly, sides and back of thestuffed animal. In such embodiment the stuffed animal is warm to thetouch over most of its body, helping to simulate a live animal and toprovide better therapeutic heat to the user.

[0014] The electric heating pad 3 includes an electric power cord 5 forconnection to an AC electric power supply. The power cord 5 may exit thestuffed animal through an opening in the outer covering located at anysuitable point. Preferably the power cord 5 exits the outer coveringthrough opening 2 described above. More preferably the power cord 5exits the outer covering through an opening in the genital area orunderside of the stuffed animal. It is envisioned that the user will usethe heated stuffed animal while watching TV, reading, etc., in whichcase the user will usually be seated in a chair or sofa or resting inbed. The power cord 5 should have a sufficient length so that the usermay plug the power cord into a household AC electric outlet whilecomfortably sitting in a chair, sofa or resting in bed.

[0015] The electric heating pad 3 includes a means 6 for selecting atemperature of heat generated by the electric heating pad 3. Thetemperature selecting means 6 may be any conventional switch or othercontrol device for selecting the temperature of the heating pad 3.Typically the means 6 is a switch having 2, 3, 4 or more settingscorresponding to, e.g., low, medium and/or high. Preferably the means 6includes an on/off switch for turning the electric heating pad 3 on andoff. In the preferred embodiment the switch has four positionscorresponding to off, low, medium and high, Alternatively the means 6may include a fully variable control device, e.g. a rheostat, forvarying the temperature by smaller increments. The temperature selectingmeans 6 is preferably located on the power cord 5 outside of the outercovering of the stuffed animal. Such location makes it easy for the userto turn on and off the heating pad 3 and to select the desiredtemperature. The electric heating pad 3 may further include a thermostatcontrol for regulating the temperature generated by the heating pad 3.This is a conventional feature of most electric heating pads and isseparate and apart from the temperature selecting means 6.

[0016] A ballast material 4 is disposed within the inner cavitycorresponding to the torso of the stuffed animal. The ballast materialis not located in the paws or legs of the animal. The ballast material 4may be any material which gives the stuffed animal a desired weight. Inthis regard, the general construction of the stuffed animal of thisinvention produces a lightweight stuffed animal. It is believed that thetherapeutic benefits of the stuffed animal are improved if the weight ofthe stuffed animal is sufficiently heavy to ensure good contact betweenthe heated surface of the stuffed animal and the portion of the user'sbody needing therapeutic heat application. Too light a weight of thestuffed animal does not give sufficient contact between the heatedsurface of the stuffed animal and the user's body. In addition, asecondary therapeutic benefit of the ballast is that the stuffed animalhas a weight which simulates or gives the user an impression that he orshe is being warmed by a live animal, particularly a comforting pet suchas a dog or cat. In other words, the primary function of the ballastmaterial 4 is to give the stuffed animal of this invention an increasedweight. An optional second function of the ballast material is to act asa heat absorber to provide more continuous warmth during use.

[0017] The ballast material 4 may have a weight in the range of 1 to 40lbs., preferably 5 to 20 lbs., more preferably 10 to 15 lbs. The ballastmaterial may be in a liquid, semi-solid or solid form. Any liquid,semi-solid or solid material may be used so long as it is non-toxic.Examples of suitable materials are gels such as polymer gels, rubbers,foams such as open cell polyurethane foams, plastics, powders, granulessuch as sand, and larger particles such as beads. Mixtures of differentballast materials may also be used. Depending upon the choice ofmaterial, the ballast material 4 may be contained in a sealed pouch or aplurality of sealed pouches within the inner cavity of the stuffedanimal. Alternatively, the ballast material need not be enclosed in apouch when a pouch is not necessary, particularly where the material isa solid and non-particulate. Preferably the ballast material is soft,deformable and pliant itself and/or when enclosed in one or morepouches. The pouches may be any size or shape. Preferably the ballast iscontained in a plurality of pouches in the shape of cylinders.Preferably the cylinders are 10 to 12 inches in length having a diameterof 1 to 2 inches. So as to not inhibit the heat transfer from theelectric heating pad through the outer covering, the electric heatingpad is preferably inserted into the inner cavity so as to be in contactwith the outer covering of the stuffed animal, and the pouches are theninserted into the inner cavity and placed on top of the heating pad. Theheating pad may be curled around the pouches, and the pouches may assistin keeping the electric heating pad in position within the inner cavity.

[0018] The heated stuffed animal may further contain within the innercavity a fire resistant stuffing material. The fire resistant materialis preferably fiberglass stuffing.

[0019] It will be readily understood that various modifications may bemade to the heated stuffed animal of my invention without departing fromthe scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly these modificationsare considered to be within the scope of this invention.

I claim:
 1. A heated stuffed animal comprising: a soft body having aninner cavity and an outer covering, said outer covering having anappearance of a live animal, an electric heating pad disposed withinsaid inner cavity for generating heat, said electric heating padincluding an electric power cord projecting outside of said outercovering for connection to an AC electric outlet power supply, means forselecting a temperature of heat generated by said electric heating pad,and a ballast material disposed within said inner cavity.
 2. The heatedstuffed animal according to claim 1, wherein said outer covering has theappearance of a dog or cat.
 3. The heated stuffed animal according toclaim 1, wherein said inner cavity further contains a fire resistantstuffing material.
 4. The heated stuffed animal according to claim 1,wherein said electric heating pad includes a thermostat control forregulating the temperature generated by said heating pad.
 5. The heatedstuffed animal according to claim 1, wherein said ballast material is aliquid, semi-solid or solid material.
 6. The heated stuffed animalaccording to claim 5, wherein said ballast material comprises a gel, afoam, a rubber, a powder, a plurality of beads, or a solid plastic. 7.The heated stuffed animal according to claim 6, wherein the ballastmaterial is contained in sealed cylindrical pouches which are disposedon the opposite side of the electric heating pad from the side of theelectric heating pad which is in contact with the underside of saidouter covering.
 8. The heated stuffed animal according to claim 6,wherein the ballast material is a soft, pliant polymer gel.
 9. Theheated stuffed animal according to claim 1, wherein said outer coveringhas the appearance of a dog, and wherein said heating element isdisposed in contact with the underside of said outer coveringcorresponding to the dog's chest and belly.
 10. The heated stuffedanimal according to claim 1, wherein said outer covering includessynthetic hair simulating the fur of the live animal.
 11. The heatedstuffed animal according to claim 1, wherein said outer coveringincludes an opening for accessing said inner cavity.
 12. The heatedstuffed animal according to claim 11, wherein said opening includes azipper for closing said inner cavity.